Top 10 Cars of the 2014 New York Auto Show

SpeedList got the opportunity to poke around the 2014 New York International Auto Show to see what all the automakers are brining for the upcoming year. Here is our must-see list of all the latest the NY Auto Show has to offer this season.

With a 12 year run as a top-selling model, Toyota decided to rebuild the legendary Camry for its latest generation leaving the roof as the only untouched component. The automaker improved the ride quality, added soft -touch materials to the interior, expanded the available variants, and face lifted the front fascia to be more aggressive. Wireless charging stands out from the crowd on the technology front.

Alfa Romeo is re-entering the ring with its lightweight sports coupe, the 4C. This rear-wheel drive model is totally focused on the driving experience. Short in length and agile, the models distinctly Alfa Romeo exterior reflects it’s sport-driven spirit. The automaker also took care to pull in all the technology the rest of its line up has to offer, so you can operate the vehicle with comfort and ease from one of the front bucket seats. Only 3,500 of the 4C will be produced, so to hit the streets in one of these you have to act fast.

The new Challenger revamp is all about power. “For 2015, we’re going deep with the remake of the Dodge Challenger,” said Tim Kuniskis, President and CEO – Dodge Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “The iconic 1971 Challenger inspired the design of this modern day muscle car, but the recreation of this classic styling extends well beneath the surface of the sheet metal. We have completely re-engineered the Challenger with a new best-in-class 485 horsepower 392 HEMI and TorqueFlite eight-speed transmission power-train, an upgraded suspension, new class-exclusive technologies and a completely new interior.”

With eight trim levels to choose from, this model is not only sure to please those after an awesome driving experience, but those on any budget.

Dodge has completely made over it’s four door, rear wheel drive Charger model. With a 3.6-liter V6 standard, and a 5.7-liter V8 Hemi for the R/T variant, the Charger is power-focused like its Challenger sibling, but also gets a full aesthetic makeover.

“Our Dodge designers have resculpted nearly every single body panel of the Dodge Charger for 2015, giving it a sleek, nimble appearance,” said Tim Kuniskis, President and CEO — Dodge Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “The Charger’s all-new exterior design combined with its standard new TorqueFlite eight-speed transmission and the latest in-car technology builds on the brand’s promise to deliver American performance machines with world-class efficiency, technology, authentic materials and standout styling for our customers.”

After the wildly successful 6th generation Sonata, Hyundai had some pretty big shoes to fill with the 7th generation. The design language is notably more quiet than its predecessor, both inside and out. The Korean automaker clearly felt it was time to tone the Sonata down with simplistic, bold lines while housing the latest technology like Pandora and Apple CarPlay, including a sizable 8-inch navigation screen. The new Sonata also has a strong focus on safety features such as Lane Departure Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Warning and Forward Collision Warning.

The Murano has never fallen short on eye-catching design, and this year’s remodel is no different. From this outside in the new Nissan is everything you would expect and then some, with a substantial amount of safety and entertainment technology to boot.

“Murano owners live in an environment – home, work and car – that is beautiful, well-designed and efficiently run. They are social and embrace technology,” said Andy Palmer, Executive Vice President, Chief Planning Officer (CPLO) of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. “The new Murano had to embrace all of these values, while also taking a major leap forward in terms of its ‘Wow’ factor.”

Mercedes really crafted a striking model with the S63 AMG Coupe, and made this generation lighter and faster, with an improved exhaust note. Powered by a handmade V8 bi-turbo engine, the S63 AMG Coupe is coupled to a 7-speed sports transmission and offers three driving modes: Controlled Efficiency, Sport and Manual. The Magic Body Control suspension used for the coupe is a first for the rear-wheel drive model, and the fresh technology allows the driver to experience curves on the road similar to the way a motorcyclist would.

This Sports Activity Coupe rests itself in the premium mid-size segment and is based on the X3. Still distinct in design, the BMW X4 offers up three gas and three diesel versions of the SUV to choose from. Although if your preference is power or mpg, BMW still provides an entertainment experience, with everything from navigation to social media, adaptive cruise control to a concierge service.

With the 4-series a still fairly new addition of the automaker’s line up, BMW took care in maintaing the recognizable figure of this model with the hard top convertible either or up down. You still have the horsepower from an M-Powered inline-six cylinder turbo under the hood, so you don’t have to sacrifice performance for the added fun.

A completely new model for Acura, the TLX was designed to bring sport and luxury together.

“Harnessing the exhilarating power of new engines, new highly-efficient transmissions and next-generation dynamics technology – blended perfectly with impeccable style and luxury – the TLX will deliver a thrill like no other,” said Mike Accavitti, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Acura. “Both the considerable performance capabilities of the TLX and the serious energy and resources brought to the brand from the newly dedicated Acura team herald the start of a new era for Acura.”

The model comes standard with a 2.4-liter engine that produces 206-hp, while a 290hp version is also available, both with all the safety technology to keep your ride stable and smooth.

SPEEDLIST

With millions of cars & trucks for sale everyday on SpeedList.com there is a lot to talk about! The SpeedList Blog brings you the very latest in automotive tests, trends, comparisons, & news, to help you be the most informed shopper you can be.